Figures to spread tourist gloom

THE FULL extent of the tourist crisis will be revealed today with the publication of Government figures on overseas visitor levels. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey will expose the level of the slump in foreign tourists after the 11 September attacks on the US. The official figures for the month of September should also reveal the drop in air travel by people in this country.

A recent survey by the British Incoming Tour Operators' Association showed visitors were down 23% in September on the previous year.

In a bid to help the capital's tourist trade the London Tourist Board today launches a 'Love London' campaign. People are being offered cheap rates in top hotels for one weekend before Christmas. The Park Lane Hotel is one of a number of hotels which will offer reduced rates or a two-for-one deal for the weekend of Friday 30 November and Saturday 1 December.

An LTB spokeswoman said: 'We want to encourage Londoners and people in the Home Counties to treat their own city as a tourist.' London is expected to lose as much as £1.5bn in overseas visitor spending this year.